Construction Update
Dec. 29, 2012- Jan. 7, 2013
During the next 10 days, construction to prepare for tunneling will continue in SoMa and recommence in Union Square. No Central Subway construction is planned to occur in North Beach or Chinatown.
On New Year's Day, no Central Subway construction is planned.
For descriptions of construction impacts in each neighborhood, scroll down or click on the links below. We also post construction, traffic detour and Muni impact information on our project Google Map.
Construction impacts are planned to change at these locations by January 7:
- Southern SoMa (Harrison to King/Berry): No evening or weekend closure of I-80 on-ramp from Dec. 29 to Jan. 1
- Union Square: Construction to resume, with partial closures of Stockton and Ellis streets recommencing Jan. 2
At these locations, current construction impacts are planned to continue until January 7:
- Northern SoMa (Market to Harrison): Continued construction on 4th Street between Howard and Folsom
- Chinatown: No construction planned
- North Beach: No construction planned
We appreciate your patience and support while we build this essential upgrade to San Francisco's public transportation system.
-The Central Subway Team
4th Street from Harrison to King/Berry
On 4th Street between Harrison and Bryant streets, the contractor is constructing a major excavation known as a launch box at the site where tunneling will begin next year.
Planned construction:
- Excavate and construct access ramp at southern end of site
Traffic and pedestrian impacts:
- All lanes on this block except the easternmost lane will be closed to all vehicle traffic. The easternmost lane will remain open to vehicle traffic south of Stillman Street.
- The on-ramp to westbound I-80 at 4th and Harrison streets will be closed from 8 p.m. on Dec. 28 to 8 a.m. on Dec. 29. After that, the on-ramp will be open at all times until the evening of Jan. 2.
- Starting Jan. 2, the on-ramp to westbound I-80 may be closed from 8 p.m. to 4 a.m. on weeknights and all day Saturday and Sunday.
- The sidewalk on the west side of the block will remain closed; the sidewalk on the east side of the block will remain open
Traffic and pedestrian controls are in place. For more information on current construction impacts at this site, check out this construction notice. 
This rebar cage was installed to form a subsurface wall on 4th Street between Howard and Folsom streets. Northern SoMa
4th Street from Market to Harrison
On 4th Street between Howard and Folsom streets, the contractor is installing below-ground walls, called headwalls, at the site of the future Yerba Buena/Moscone Station. The walls will cross 4th Street at two points on this block.
Planned construction:
- Construction of southwest and northwest headwalls
Traffic and pedestrian impacts:
- At least two lanes of traffic on 4th Street will remain open at all times
- The contractor will continue working on the western side of the block, with at least two lanes open on the eastern side of the street (left lanes for southbound traffic)
- The sidewalk on the western side of the street will be impacted. Fencing and barriers are in place to designate a safe path of travel.
Traffic and pedestrian controls are in place. For more information on construction at this site, check out this blog post. 
This construction site has been temporarily restored to traffic during the holiday season. Union Square
Stockton Street from Market to Post
Construction on Stockton Street between Geary and Ellis streets and Ellis Street between Stockton and Powell streets will resume Wednesday, January 2. The contractor will install below-ground walls, called headwalls, on Stockton Street at the site of the future Union Square/Market Street Station. In addition, ground improvement will be underway on Ellis Street.
Planned construction:
- Set up construction zone on Stockton and Ellis streets
- Demolish foundations on Stockton between Geary and Ellis (in front of Macy's)
Traffic, transit and pedestrian impacts:
- No construction is planned to occur from Dec. 29 to Jan. 1
- Starting Jan. 2, Stockton Street between Geary and Ellis will be closed to all vehicles except emergency vehicles
- Starting Jan. 2, Ellis Street between Stockton and the Ellis-O'Farrell Garage (between Stockton and Powell) will be closed to westbound traffic
- The 38/38L Geary may experience delays around Union Square
- It is anticipated that the Ellis Street entrance to the Powell Street Muni Metro/BART Station will be closed in January. More information about this closure will be made available soon.
- Sidewalks on Stockton Street between Ellis and Geary will remain open, but they may be narrowed to facilitate construction
More information about construction at this site is available in this construction notice and this press release. 
Little Paris restaurant, relocated to prepare to construct the Chinatown Station, celebrated its grand opening at its new location this month. It is last of the businesses relocated from 933-949 Stockton Street to reopen. (Photo credit: World Journal) Chinatown
Stockton Street from California to Broadway
No construction is planned to occur in Chinatown during the next 10 days.
Columbus Avenue from Union to Filbert
No construction is planned to occur in North Beach during the next 10 days.
Central Subway Construction Fast Facts
Project Alignment: 4th Street between Berry and Market streets; Stockton Street between Market Street and Columbus Avenue; Columbus Avenue between Stockton and Filbert streets.
Transit Reroutes: The southbound 8X/8AX/8BX Bayshore Express, 30 Stockton, 45 Union/Stockton and 91 Owl Muni bus routes have been rerouted to accommodate construction in Union Square and SoMa. These reroutes will remain in effect throughout the duration of Central Subway construction. More information is available online here.
Contact Us: Should you have questions about construction or the Central Subway Project, don't hesitate to contact our team. You can reach us at central.subway@sfmta.com or by phone at 415-701-4371.
For More Information: The Central Subway team posts frequent project updates on a variety of social media outlets. To find out more about the project and construction progress, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or Flickr, and check out our blog.
Construction schedules are subject to change.